Competitive Demands and Performance-Determining Variables in Olympic Ski Mountaineering

Purpose: To investigate the competitive demands and performance-determining variables in the Sprint and Mixed-Relay formats in male and female ski mountaineers. Methods: Performance data of 76 ski mountaineers (36 females) competing in a World Cup event were analyzed. A total of 20 ski mountaineers (11 females) completed ski-mountaineering-specific maximal and supramaximal (intensity > VO2max) tests, with a subgroup of 10 ski mountaineers (5 females) being monitored during the races. Results: Near-maximal cardiac responses (>95% of maximal heart rate) were observed in the 2 formats, with significantly higher ascent speed and contribution of lactic anaerobic metabolism in the Sprint than in the Mixed Relay (blood lactate 12.9 [3.2] vs 6.3 [1.2] mmol/L, P < .001). Uphill skiing represented the majority of race time in both formats and accounted for most of the variance in performance (∼80%-90%), with transition times explaining almost all the remaining variance (∼10%-15%). In the Mixed Relay, the skiing speed at the second ventilatory threshold (R2 = .78, P = .001) and the maximal speed at the end of the VO2max test (R2 = .78, P = .019) were the best predictors of performance in the whole pool of ski mountaineers and in males, respectively. The maximal sustainable skiing speed over a 2-minute effort was the best predictor of performance in the Sprint (R2 = .95, P < .001) for both sexes. Discussion: Ski mountaineers should tailor their training considering the specific physiological demands of each race, emphasizing near-maximal to maximal intensities for the Mixed Relay and supramaximal intensities for the Sprint. These insights into Olympic ski-mountaineering disciplines are of considerable value for athletes and coaches in preparation for the Winter Olympics.